Reports have begun to surface about Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's security forces arresting doctors and pharmacists who have been supplying medical treatment to protesters at state hospitals. The city of Homs is pummeled with tank fire and heavy artillery, causing the most destruction in one location to date. As a punishment for repeated human rights violations, Syria is suspended from the Arab League. Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the Syrian government have turned up in Latakia, hometown of embattled president Bashar Al Assad, to rally against the decision of the Arab League. Consequently, security forces during the night have conducted early morning crackdowns on thousands of homes known to be safehouses for opposition leaders. Syria Human Rights Watch condemns the crackdowns, but their calls fall deaf on the international community. Less than a month has passed after the Libyan Civil War, which culminated in rebel victory when Muammar Gaddafi was killed on October 20th. Invigorated by the outcome in Libya, Free Syrian Army rebels are amassing in droves to continue the liberations of the Arab Spring.

As you secretly correspond more with the Salafist brigade, you learn that many of them were a part of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi's network during the Iraq war. You also learn that many of the fighters are currently in Homs and that they are planning an attack in Damascus soon. Khalil has noticed that your activity online has greatly diminished and he has been asking what you have been doing. It also isn't lost on Khalil that you have been praying more in your apartment. You have done a good job hiding your communication with the Salafists but you know that you can't keep it from Khalil forever. Khalil, on the other hand, has been open about working with the Free Syrian Army in Turkey. Perhaps there might be a way to unite both of your allies against the security forces of Bashar Al Assad.